Abstract:Acquiring temperature measurements from rotating machine
components using conventional methods can be costly and technically challenging.
Solutions involving thermocouples often include elaborate coupling mechanisms to
ensure continuity of contact between the rotating thermocouple and the measuring
instrument. Infrared thermal measurement solutions, while extremely accurate, do
not afford the ability to measure temperature at critical and targeted locations
on the rotating structure. The advent of wireless batteryless sensing using
surface acoustic wave (SAW) technology holds the promise of providing cost
effective and elegant solutions to the challenges posed by rotating machine
components. Through use of independent frequency bands the sensors maintain
unique identification within the system architecture. Further, passively powered
SAW temperature sensors that do not need either an external power supply or
batteries provide the added benefit of a low maintenance and environmentally
friendly temperature measurement solution.